The Augustinian, October 2012 (News Fold)

QUiCKnUMbErs

38

CURTAILING CYBER FREEDOM? PAge A4

VOLUME LVIII • NUMBER 1

EdiTOriAL

ISA DEBUTS AS AN ORGANIZATION

PAge A3

POCO A POCO

PAge A3

AugustiniAn

PAge A4

the

This is the national web popularity ranking of USA this year. The VPSa wants it to be higher. Know what rank it is. see full story on page A2

TREES CUT DOWN FOR SAFETY

E X C E L L E N T

C A M P U S

J O U R N A L I S M

F O R

T H E

C O M M O N

the OFFiCiAL stuDent neWsPAPeR OF the uniVeRsity OF sAn Agustin

G O O D

Iloilo loilo City, Philippines

OCTOBER 5, 2012

‘intelligent uniVersity’

New admin eyes world-class USA

By RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

IN its establishment on July 15, 1904, it started out as an exclusive school for boys coming from Iloilo and Negros provinces; today, it is the coed University of San Agustin (USA) and it aims to become not just nationally-known but also a worldclass Catholic Augustinian educational institution.

not a chainsaw massacre. The lumberjack cuts down the remaining part of the tree in front of Herrera Hall as part of the implementation of the campus development plan. Due to the administration’s failure to consult, various reactions from students, faculty, and concerned alumni were raised. Read related article on page A2. (usA PuB PhOtO / ThoNGENN LANz b. PATIAM)

INTELLIgENT • PAGE A6

By RIC MARTIN l. lIBo-oN

a cradle of augustinian history. The urdaneta Hall built in 1939 remains as the oldest intact structure in the university which survived World War II. (usA Pub Photo / RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG)

The UniVerSiTy of San agUSTin is exerting efforts for the 73-year-old Urdaneta Hall to earn a cultural title.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Fr. Harold Rentoria, OSA requested the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Museum to “visit the campus in October for a possible declaration”.

The visit will verify the painting located at the grand staircase inside Urdaneta Hall which is said to be the work of National Artist URdANETA • PAGE A6

more int’l students choose usa

By JoEL S. SASTRILLo

The neW academic year opened with more international students enrolled here, according to the Office of the University registrar. as shown on the tentative resume of enrollment released by the Registrar, the number of foreign students increased 45.24 percent from 42 to 61

CATCH us OnlInE AT WWW.USA-PUB.BLOGSPOT.COM

enrollees this year.

“I can’t figure out any concrete reasons why the trend in the enrollment of foreign students seemed to increase. But based on my experience, they enrolled here because our alumni referred our University to their foreign friends”, Mrs. gemma halili, University INTERNATIONAL • PAGE A2

f facebook.com/usa.publications

enrollment figures first semester, Academic year 2012-2013.

Y youtube.com/usAPublications t twitter.com/usA_Pub

usA Pub InfOGrAPHIC / ray adrian c. macalalag

nolan

path of life she should take. “everyone has a vocation leading to higher learning, to deeper problems of the world.” he stresses.

During the 2-hour talk, he received applause from the audience for his sketches, one of which was a caricature of Jesus Christ with the words – freedom, life, joy, peace and union.

“God drives us to these things for a life to the fullest.” Nolan explained. he also stressed that “god doesn’t make decisions for us but he guides and gives us set of choices to choose from. It is up to us to select the best one to lead us to fullness of life.” nolan’s visit was organized by the Theology Department and the Campus Ministry Office. usA Pub PHOTO / thongenn lanZ b. patiam

MoST reV. fr. MarTin nolan, oSa, the former prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) visited the University last July 11 and gave a talk on “Gospel Liberation and Higher Education – In the light of Augustinian Values” at the USA Auditorium. nolan commenced his talk with an anecdote, a brief story of a nun named Judith who was once befuddled on which

of the campus and the state of the buildings and facilities.

“We have already established a plan so that we could have a cleaner campus and we could help save the environment… one of my biggest dreams is to move the University Library to the cafeteria area so that the source of knowledge of the students could be found in the heart of the campus,” he said.

During a dialogue organized by the USA Student Council and the USA Publications held last July 26 at the USA Student Center, landscape architect nathaniel John Dueñas further affirmed

urdaneta Hall seeks nat’l cultural title

Former OSA Head visits San Agustin

By SEuLGI J. hAN

rev. fr. frederick comendador, oSa, the newly-appointed University President installed last May 16, 2012 shared his administration’s intent on getting the University international standard certifications by the end of his term four years from now.

“My benchmark is the status of the University especially in its local, national, and international rankings,” he shared. c o m e n d a d o r emphasized that he has already identified and has begun dealing with the major areas which require improvements such as cleanliness and orderliness

Augustinian

A2 News

the

Volume LVII • Number 1

October 5, 2012

USA Pub goes VPSA on web ranking: green, modern Make USA number one

By JESANNY I. YAP

The 84-year-old official student press corps of the University of San Agustin launched various development initiatives in the first semester of this academic year.

Some of these developments include saving energy in the USA Publications Editorial Office by using natural lighting at daytime and publishing an online web newscast which aims to reduce paper use, were launched earlier this August.

“As campus journalists of the University, we already helped out developing communities. We wanted to work as eco-friendly writers. That is why we chose to come up with paperless alternatives.” USA Publications editor-in-chief Ray Adrian Macalalag said.

The web newscast according to Macalalag was the first ever to be done by a student paper in the Visayas.

In an effort to further minimize paper use, the size of the newspaper was reduced by half an inch in both its height and width, thus, making the newspaper both “handy” and “paper-saving”.

“Minimalist fonts were used this year so that the text is smaller but clearer to the eyes,” Macalalag added.

Overall, the USA Publications will continue to introduce innovations so that the press corps will not only publish papers but also help and become an advocate for the environtment.

“We are not just an organization that publishes articles on advocacies. We do what we can,” Macalalag concluded.

Online copies of The Augustinian Mirror, The Augustinian, Irong-irong and other publications including the web newscasts produced by the press corps are available online at their website, www.usa-pub.blogspot.com.

By Febrielyn S. Tumines

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs showed more interest in making our University the most web-popular in the country after its big leap from last year’s lower ranking in web popularity ranking.

The 4International Colleges and University (4ICU) latest web popularity ranking revealed that our University is in 38 th place among the schools in the Philippines, way higher than its 83rd place last year.

With this huge leap, making the University third in Western Visayas following Central Philippine University in 18th place and University of the Philippines in the Visayas in 19th place.

Rev. Fr. Donato Ellezar, OSA, Vice President for Student Affairs said, “that’s

good news. But I believe that we can still do more to improve and make it number one. We hope that our University will land on the first rank,” said Ellezar.

Upgrading the site and improving web visibility will be given attention by the new administration through the use of the University website as an effective tool of communication, dialogue and exchange of knowledge.

“This is really one of the thrusts of this University, of the present administration, to keep on upgrading the website of the University since it’s an effective tool for information dissemination, important announcements, achievements and the like,” Ellezar added.

The University’s

PHOTO courtesy of nampap

Bachelor of Science in Architecture Batch 1991 graduate, Arch.

we care. Using natural lighting, the office can save up to 62.4 kilowatt hours of power per month. That is equivalent to the average daily consumption of a regular household. (USA Pub Photo

/ ray adrian c. macalalag)

INTERNATIONAL • from PAGE A1

in the know The University’s President and Vice Presidents

“A family friend of ours has a Filipino husband and he presented the idea to my family about the University… and we decided to study here. It’s a new home for me.

Compared to our University in Nigeria, it’s a little bit smaller but I found quality education here,” Izuora said.

Izuora, now a senior, is a consistent dean’s lister in the College of Business Administration and Accountancy.

Asked on how she got well in her studies, she responded “sometimes it’s difficult to understand [the subject] because the teacher speaks in [local] dialect. But I focus more on the important details and that’s how I managed to learn”.

Izuora is also the president of the USA International Student Association.

It is an organization for foreign students that was formed “to accommodate their needs and to let the students adjust to their new environment”.

didulo

and look for means to improve the University website, the first step in making a clearer web visibility.

Marjoelina Didulo was recently awarded as this year’s Outstanding Master Plumber by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on June 22, 2012 at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel, Metro Manila.

Didulo was awarded “for amply showing professional competence of the highest degree with integrity in the practice of her profession as plumbing contractor and designer”, according to the PRC.

Aside from being a plumbing contractor and designer, Didulo also served as conference chairman, director, and secretary of the National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines (NAMPAP) and founded the KABARO Chapter of the said association, integrating all of its Panay Island chapters.

Moreover, she joined trainings related to her field and conducted training programs “for NAMPAP, nongovernment organizations, and local government units in the Visayas region” which made her worthy of such

distinction.

The awarding was organized in coordination with the Foundation for Outstanding Professionals (FOP), Philippine Association of Professional Regulatory Board Members (PAPRB), and Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA).

This was part of the celebration of the 39 th founding anniversary of PRC and the Professional Regulation Week with the theme, “PRC Kaagapay sa Tuwid na Landas tungo sa Kaunlaran.”

PICE-Iloilo adopts CE grads’ studies

By RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers Iloilo Chapter (PICEIloilo) officially organized the ground breaking ceremony of their green structure that was donated to San Miguel Elementary School, San Miguel, Iloilo.

PICE-Iloilo donated a school building to the said elementary school as part of the Project Green Engineering Philippines and Green Schools.

The rice hull bricks and interlocking compressed earth blocks (ICEB) with shredded tarpaulin, which were developed by six civil engineering fresh graduates of the University in their two separate technical papers, would be incorporated in the structure.

FR. FREDERICK C. COMENDADOR, OSA University President

Management Information System with Rev. Fr. Basilio Sugata-on, OSA as the new Director, is trying to upgrade

CEA alumna named outstanding professional

By RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

Registrar said in an interview.

Based on the resume of enrolled foreign students this year, Koreans have the highest number of enrollees having 23 students, followed

by Nigerians with nine, Americans with eight, Indians and Ugandan with four each, Indonesians and Japanese with three each, Malaysian with two, Serbian, Palauan, Pakistani, German, and Congolese having one student each enrolled.

“Maybe the medium of instruction we have, accommodating personnel, and the minimal fees applied to the foreign students [the same as those of Filipino students] could also be the reasons why they chose our University,” Mrs. Halili concluded.

Chinazom Elizabeth Izuora taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management, a native of Nigeria, is one of the foreign students who enrolled here in the University.

usa pub illustration / jerson e. elmido

A rice hull brick according to the paper is “made from a mixture of rice hull, cement, sand, and water” and can be used for “walls or footwalks, to enhance the façade of a house or building structure”.

Meanwhile, from another paper, the ICEB with shredded tarpaulin are “earthen bricks compressed with handoperated or motorized hydraulic machine; it can either be solid, hollow, or interlocking.”

The thesis entitled “Design and Development of Rice Hull Bricks” was done

by Mae Charis Diaz, Patrick Jun Ileto, and Ian Tenio with Engr. Eryl Lazarte as adviser; while the thesis entitled “A Comparative Study between Interlocking Compressed

FR. HAROLD L. RENTORIA, OSA

Vice President for Academic Affairs

let’s go green. School officials and PICE Iloilo Members begin the ground breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the green school building. (Photo courtesy of PICE-Iloilo)

Earth Blocks with Shredded Tarpaulin and Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks” was done by Edna Mae Delfin, John Philip Diasanta, and Czarinna Verlynne Magan, with Lazarte and Engr. Alexander Jamerlan as

FR. ROY D. ASPERA, OSA

Vice President for Administration and Finance

thesis advisers.

College of Engineering and Architecture dean and head of the Civil Engineering Department Engr. Reynaldo Asuncion represented the University in the ground breaking ceremony.

FR. DONATO E. ELLEZAR, OSA

Vice President for Student Affairs

Augustinian

October 5, 2012

Trees cut down for safety

By Febrielyn S. Tumines and Jeremiah John P. Vardeleon

More sunlight now brightens the Mentrida, Herrera, and Urdaneta Halls after the Administration decided to cut down some of the trees along Gen. Luna Street.

Aside from releasing Circular No. 04, Fr. Frederick Comendador, OSA, University President, Fr. Ian Ragodon, OSA, Director of General Services and Arch.

Nathaniel John Dueñas, a seasoned urban planner and landscape architect, answered all queries in a forum conducted by the USA Student Council in cooperation with the USA Publications at USA Student Center, July 26.

Dueñas revelead that the cutting of trees was part of the Administration’s “Master Plan”.

Part of it is the beautification project of the University and major renovations which include, “state-of-the-art” landscaping, student plazas, installation of grass pavers, electronic billboards and many more.

“I admit that what we have here [in the Master Plan] is indeed an ambitious project. We are looking for foundations to fund it. As of now, we can only finish half

CBAA rep grabs full Augustine Scholarship

the facelift begins. Branches of the cut mahogany trees lie near the Centennial Monument. The said site will be converted into a student plaza. (USA Pub Photo / thongenn lanz b. patiam)

the project.” Comendador said.

Compliance with the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities recommendation four years ago which is “to maintain a clean and orderly environment” was one of the reasons for cutting down the trees. The other reasons for the Administration’s coming up with the “Master Plan”, included (1) preparation for the new program called Bachelor in Landscape

Architecture, (2) preparation for next year’s 60th anniversary of the school’s elevation to University status.

“Our school is disorganized and dirty…

We want a home where we see things clearly, where everything is clean, where everything is systematic,” Comendador further explained.

Questions from the panel were raised about the Administration’s failure to consult the stakeholders and the University’s susceptibility to pollutants now that the trees were cut. Comendador made an apology and assured everyone, faculty and students alike, of giving them an opportunity to voice their concerns in the future.

“If cutting of trees is a sin, then I apologize. I will then replace each tree cut…

We will incorporate plants that will lessen the levels of pollutants…We will have a regular coffee break session inviting various sectors of

the University to know your concerns,” He promised.

Comendador also countered the issue of prioritizing classroom renovations first being impossible because classes are going on and stated there was not a century-old tree cut; he said that inspections were conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before the trees were cut.

Comendador added, “The DENR Inspection Report said that the various reasons for the cutting down of trees were: hazardous branches, damages made to University structures, and diseased trees which proved to be dangerous.”

Father President gave his last assurance that they [Administration] are lovers of trees and also environmentalists and they are only doing what they’re doing because it’s their initiative “to continue the legacy of excellence.”

ISA debuts as an organization

The University o f S a n A g ust i n ’ s International Students Association (ISA) launched its first exhibition last August 22, at the USA Student Center.

ISA is the first organization in the university of its kind that is globally based, with a representation of students from 12 various foreign countries, namely: Korea, Japan, Uganda, Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Guam, United States, Germany, Palau and Malaysia.

Presently, 1 out of 170 students in the university are foreigners.

The opening prayer was led by Rev. Fr. Jessie Tabobo, following opening remarks from ISA’s president, Chinazom Elizabeth Izuora, a fourth year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing Management major, and a

newsbrief

This year’s awardee for the full St. Augustine Scholarship is College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA)’s Jane Rose Cabrera. After a tie-breaker, Apple Silva from the College of Engineering and Architecture and Kathleen Joy Eraldo of the College of Arts and Sciences won second and third places, earning them 75 percent and 50 percent scholarships, respectively.

Campus Minister Rev. Fr. Czar Emmanuel Alvarez, OSA, later announced at the end of the program that all the other participants were entitled to 10 percent scholarships. Jeremiah John P. Vardeleon

making it real. The computer-generated image shows the area fronting the Herrera Hall. (Photo courtesy of USA Administration)

By Ayah Danica V. Granada

News A3

the

Volume LVII • Number 1

presentation of officers.

When asked about the origin of the title of the exhibit, “USA.ISA.ONE”, Mr. Eric Divinagracia, the Chair for Co-curricular Activities and one of the organization’s advisers explained.

“What we actually discovered, by using words as images and words as symbols, is that USA is also usa, and usa is also one in Cebuano or in Bisaya, ISA, which is the International Students Association, is also one in Hiligaynon as well as in Filipino. And fittingly, this organization was born in the year when we are contemplating on the meaning of UNITAS- or unity.”

Following the introductions and acknowledgement of their further advisers, University Registrar Gemma Halili and Guidance Services

unity in diversity. Foreign students sing and dance together in an intermission during the USA-ISA expo at the USA Student Center. (USA Pub Photo / ayah danica v. granada)

Center Directress Dr. Nenita Villanueva, a performance on the ukulele, and a dance number combining moves from their respective countries, the ceremony concluded with the ribboncutting led by Rev. Fr. Jessie Tabobo which opened the exhibit to the rest of the student body.

“It’s not easy to be far from home, the idea for an international students organization has been a

thought at the back of our minds for a while, but we were too few so it wasn’t very practical,” Izuora expressed to The Augustinian.

“The biggest difficulty international students face is the language barrier and people being shy about talking to us… it’s nice to have the organization because it gives us an opportunity to meet and interact with other foreign students. ” she added.

COE wins 4th Intercollege Algebra-Statistics Quiz The College of Education clinched the top four positions in the 4th Inter-College Algebra and Statistics Quiz Bowl held at USA Conference Room, August 24.

Mary Queen Camariosa topped the said event together with her fellow educators, Jessa Jane Tugbo, Tshalein Villaruz, and Noniley Cuaresma who ranked second, third, and fourth placers; while Edrylle Cofreros from College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology, took the fifth place. Top three winners will represent the University in the upcoming Provincial Statistics Quiz Bowl sometime this October. Engr. Niño G. Blones, Ms. Pilar Arguelles, and Ms. Marichu Figuracion, all faculty members under the Mathematics and Physics Department served as judges for the said event. The USA Mathematics and Physics Society, spearheaded

by Marie Franze Decena, President, in partnership with the Department of Mathematics and Physics, led

by Prof. Rhodora A. Cartagena, organized the Inter –College Algebra and Statistics Quiz Bowl as part of the celebration of the Patron Saint’s Day 2012. Joel S. Sastrillo

CBAA and CPMT top social science contests After seven clincher questions, Siegfred Casquero, a finalist from the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), was named champion of the Social Science Quiz Bee held last August 23 at the USA Conference Room. Seventeen other representatives, three from each college, took part in the Patron Saint’s celebration event. Trailing Casquero, were 2nd runnerup, Olivette Elmedorial, and 3 rd runner-up Junine Wednesday Java, both coming from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), making them the winning team. An annual essay writing contest themed: “Letter of Rizal to the New Breed of Augustinians” was also conducted by the Social Science Club, held at the Graduate School Conference Room, on August 16. Mary Leslie Eregia of the College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology (CPMT) took first place, followed by Chanika Anja Fullon from CAS and Andre Karl Faculin, also from CPMT, ranked third. Ayah Danica V. Granada

3 Pubpips among top 50 designers of SM Eco Bag USA PUBLICATIONS editor-in-chief Ray Adrian Macalalag, managing editor Jerson Elmido, and art director Anne Catherine Malazarte were among the country’s top 50 designers of the new line of SM Supermalls Eco Bag in a bag-designing contest, October 10. They were the only winning designers from Iloilo City who made it to the top 50 along with 10 others from Visayas, 10 from Mindanao, and 27 from Luzon including the National Capital Region.

SM Supermalls recently launched the “Design Your Own Eco Bag Contest” as an advocacy for creating awareness among the youths of this generation. With the theme “Art of Sustainability”, the contest was open to all high school and college students enrolled this AY 2012-2013. STEPHANIE KAY L. URQUIOLA

A4

Volume lVII • Number 1

October 5, 2012

iMPETUs

EPiCnEss

By JoSEFA MARIA A. CASTRo

“We must acknowledge the fact that the cyber world is a jungle and anything and everything that we post is immortalized.”

By RIC MARTIN L. LIbo-oN

August

th

“It is high time that we infuse our system with a sense of patriotism and inculcate in our learners the spirit of nationalism...”

curtailing cyber freedom?

Lost in translation

Barely a year ago, I remember when I was skimming through my Facebook page, scrolling through the news feed. One of my friends posted about a new dog that she had bought the other day, another one posted a picture of what she had for lunch. Apart from the photos, I read through my friend’s different Facebook statuses that varied from people praising the Almighty for helping them get through their midterm exams to people complaining about how awful their day was. As I was scrolling through the mundane posts, something caught my eye. One of my Facebook friends, whom I personally didn’t know, posted something interesting. She typed my name followed by the words “is a cheater and a thief, I don’t know why people like her”.

Alright, so my basic reaction would have been to ignore the status since I was well aware of the fact that this person didn’t even know me and was in no position to write something that condescending about me; but what nudged my gut while re-reading the post was the fact that I didn’t know HOW to deal with people who posted these types of things online and that fact that what she had posted was immortalized on the web and the number of people who were able to read the post was beyond my control. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person who’s experienced something similar.

Last September 12, 2012, President Aquino signed the approval of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Protection Act of 2012, better known as the cybercrime law.

Commenting on the new law, Information and Communications Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP) President Dondi Mapa said: “It’s not a matter of identifying new crimes but only recognizing that existing crimes now happen in a new environment.”

Although the passage of the law was ostensibly meant to penalize rampant online hacking, cybersex, cyber bullying, and identity-theft, among others, it came as a shock to a hefty number of Filipinos since it took the backseat behind all the RH bill drama going on at that time. Its ratification was welcomed with mixed reactions that raised a huge hype throughout the country. Filipino netizens expressed their disapproval by blacking out their Facebook profile pictures and trending the hash tag #notocybercrimelaw on Twitter that went on for several days.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act is a boon for local firms, particularly in the information technology sector, as business groups all over the country have expressed.

For students such as myself, our dependence on technology and being constantly in touch with the cyber world is an inevitability, which is why the new law gathered a general thumbs down from people my age. The only problem was that most people dived into conclusions and hopped on the “No to Cybercrime Law” wagon without even fully comprehending the law itself. The main concern of students and netizens in general was that they felt that the law was a violation of their right to freedom of self expression and freedom of speech as mandated by our very own constitution.

Many people argued that with the passing of the new law, their rights would be violently curtailed.

But is it not that freedom is not absolute? Is it not that our freedom ends where the rights of other people begin? We must acknowledge the fact that the cyber world is a jungle and anything and everything that we post is immortalized and can reach far more computer monitors than we could ever imagine.

The law categorizes cybercrimes into three: (1) offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems; (2) computer-related; or (3) content-related offenses.

Illegal access to computer systems, illegal interception of data, data or system interference, as well as misuse or computer systems or data belong in the first category.

Computer-related offenses include the input, alteration or deletion of any computer data with the intent of forgery, fraud or identity theft.

Cases of identity stealing, cybersex and child pornography were among those enumerated in the content-related offenses.

Among the crimes enumerated in the law, the provision on libel introduced by Senator Vicente III gathered the most attention and it is completely understandable as to why people were alarmed.

TiMe to straighten twisted tongues and soothe alphabetic agitations Breaking ground – again – in the educational landscape, the mother tongue, or lingua franca, has “arrived” and is dead set on making itself as the medium of instruction in the classroom. With the extension of secondary education through the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program as mandated by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) shall also be enforced.

Language and communication are indeed factors to be considered by schools in providing quality education. It is about stimulus and response. The teacher delivers a message and the students receive it. Right? Well… not quite, because trouble usually rears its ugly head in the middle of this whole process. Blame it on the medium or the means by which information is conveyed. If the learners don’t value what the teacher is saying because she uses language that they can hardly speak or understand, then I’m afraid the classroom will soon be afflicted with a linguistic dysfunction.

Luckily, the multilingual educational system has now been implemented. This scheme provides learners access to equal learning experiences through the use of three linguistic mediums - Filipino, English, and their locality’s indigenous language. It is a sensible and rational system that doesn’t undermine the cultural facet of instruction.

The resurgence of the use of the mother tongue in schools, which includes Hiligaynon among the twelve native languages identified by the DepEd, creates a comfortable setting in the classroom where students can freely interact with each other and express themselves with greater ease. for instance, in a typical classroom scene, when a student runs out of (English or Filipino) words to use during recitation and switches to the dialect instead, he is reprimanded because he is deemed to have committed a “misdemeanor”. This “practice” usually leaves a negative imprint on the mind of the learner, besides preventing him from taking part in classroom discussions again. Thus, it doesn’t contribute in any way to helping us become effective communicators in English or Filipino; rather, it develops in us only a pseudo-belief in the great importance of our two official languages of communication in the country, English and Filipino, which have shaped our culture and heritage.

Similarly, I believe that this mother tongue-based program shall not leave out any of the crucial linguistic nuances inherent in studying our two official languages.

Come to think of it, Filipino is a “foreign language” to many indigenous tribes and other groups of people in far-flung places in the country without access to communications media, thus, it is only right that they, and all learners for that matter, be initially taught the 3 R’s (and more) in their native tongue. In fact, studies have shown that using the mother tongue instead of a foreign language facilitates and promotes a better learning experience for students, especially those in early basic education, before the adoption of a national or universal language in teaching and learning the different subjects. This could be one elixir to cure our ailing educational domain.

One notable study was performed by multilingual education pioneer Dr. Jose V. Aguilar, a distinguished Ilonggo leader who conducted an experiment in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo using Hiligaynon as a medium of instruction. The test results showed that the students who were taught the different subjects using the vernacular outperformed those taught in english.

Undeniably, a student should master English and Filipino for they are used in business, education, industry, politics, and communication in and out of the country, so he must know these languages by heart. However, he must not forget his identity which is grounded on his native tongue and culture, be it Ilonggo, Ilocano, Cebuano, Bicolano, Kapampangan, or Tagalog.

Above all, it is high time that we infuse our system with a sense of patriotism and inculcate in our learners the spirit of nationalism in order to preserve our ethnic linguistic heritage that has been taken for granted through the years as we journey towards globalization.

Diverse as they are, our 170 ethnic dialects or languages in

EPIcNESS • PAGE A6

IMPETUS • PAGE A6

Poco a

16TH DAY OF MAY 2012 – The University of San Agustin is taking another step up the ladder of history. New administrators have been installed this day. Headed by the former Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod president, Rev. Fr. Frederick Comendador, OSA, the 108-year old Catholic Augustinian educational institution will be in his hands that will either make or break the future of the only Augustinian university in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Comendador administration is noticeably on a high speed in making significant developments in the University. More importantly, among the new president’s plans is working for the University’s international accreditation and international standard certificates, the biggest among his goals.

The academic facelift will include the opening of the program, Bachelor in Landscape Architecture, next school year, and getting accreditation for all programs from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities and other national and international accrediting agencies.

The physical plant also went under the knife, so to speak. The windows at each building were replaced. Trees were cut down for the safety of everyone. And to rehabilitate the location where the trees were cut down, landscaping was done.

Amidst the various cheers and jeers of the faculty, students, organizations, and environmentalists, the administration still pushed through with its plan on the landscaping and the cutting of trees. Although concerned stakeholders had a say on the state of those ‘poor’ trees, they have to realize that the overall decision still came from the administrators. Apparently, they knew what is best. They consulted the proper authorities before making their decisions.

August

th

The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Produced by the USA Publications eDitORs-in-ChieF MAnAging eDitOR

AssOCiAte eDitORs LiteRARy eDitOR WALL neWsPAPeR eDitOR ARt DiReCtOR PhOtOgRAPhy eDitOR CiRCuLAtiOn MAnAgeR seniOR WRiteRs stAFF WRiteRs

PhOtOJOuRnALists MAgAZine APPRentiCe WRiteRs neWsPAPeR APPRentiCe WRiteRs MODeRAtOR

Ray Adrian C. Macalalag Josefa Maria A. Castro Jerson e. elmido

Jesanny i. yap stephanie Kay L. urquiola genessa A. Buenafe

Febrielyn s. tumines Ric Martin L. Libo-on Anne Catherine D. Malazarte thongenn Lanz B. Patiam John Louie e. esmaya Ayah Danica V. granada Wilhelm C. Lizada Joel s. sastrillo

Joyce gem M. Cañete Jeremiah John P. Vardeleon Marylex g. sumatra Christine Joy A. saber

Daniel P. Abutas shila Lowesse Patryxia g. Lao seulgi J. han george L. Lozada

edrylle g. Cofreros Rochelle Louise D. Doromal gladys t. Confesor

THE AUGUSTINIAN is the the USA Publications. Com part of this publication may the USA Publications and t ADDRESS

Sec Ge

LANDLINE

(+6

EMAIL

usa

WEBSITE BLOG FACEBOOK TWITTER YOUTUBE

usa usa fac twi you

OVERALL NEWSPAPER DESIGN

Ray

COLOPHON

Thi Ad are

tiniAn

he

Opinion EdiTOriAL

A5 rAZOr EdgE

By RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

“Thus, instead of just an issue of plain cutting of trees, the act was made to look like a new version of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre...”

biLL POsTEr

By JERSoN E. ELMIDo

”Nasubu-an pa gid ako sang akon matukiban nga ang amo nga kustomer, empleyado gali sang aton Unibersidad…”

sweeteners and overreacting ‘Gusto niyo pa mag-add, sir?’

a Poco

The administration was lambasted by anonymous people on social networking sites through “spicy” and illogical words used by “limelight seekers”. The friar administrators did not react.

Instead, they answered all queries in a forum on the cuttig of trees organized by the USA Student Council and the USA Publications.

The University President showed responsibility and openness to constructive criticisms. In the first two months of his four-year term as head of this institution, he proved that he could take the challenges, and emerge from them unscathed. on the other hand, however, the administration might get a little bit carried away with all these ambitions. Taking into consideration that the University President himself admitted that the institution lacks resources to fully transform the blueprints of development into a reality, San Agustin might not perfectly implement everything, thus leaving some loose threads along the way.

The administration is doing plenty of things at the same time: revision of school policies, implementing solid waste management programs, evaluating faculty and personnel, landscaping, renovation of buildings, upgrading of facilities, among others.

It is a big overload for our friar administrators to juggle plenty of things. They also need to take action judiciously so that the best output will be produced.

What is more effective for the administration is to simply do things poco a poco (little by little). Four years is just a short period of time to build the Comendador administration’s dreams but making it a reality, piece by piece, one project at a time, might help.

tiniAn

he

n Agustin • www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinian

e official student newspaper of the University of San Agustin. It is published by mments, suggestions, and contributions may be sent to the editorial board. No ay be reproduced by any means without written permission and approval from the authors.

cond Floor, Alumni Building, University of San Agustin, eneral Luna Street, Iloilo City, Philippines 5000

63-33) 337-48-24 local number 189

a.publications@rocketmail.com

a-pub.blogspot.com a-publications.journ.ph cebook.com/usa.publications itter.com/USA_Pub utube.com/USAPublications

y Adrian C. Macalalag

is newspaper was designed using Adobe Photoshop CS3, dobe Illustrator CS3, and Adobe InDesign CS3. Characters e set in Avenir, Cambria, and Optima typefaces.

A warm cup of coffee might be too bitter to handle. One needs a teaspoon of creamer and a cube or two of sugar. Like coffee, the world is full of bitterness – not that I am pessimistic at this point. Each of us differs in how we handle different degrees of nastiness – some of us add a dash of creamer, while some of us just overpower the bitter brew with too much sugar.

For instance, last May, there was such a ruckus over certain developments on campus that I would call ground-breaking, literally. Suddenly, more sunlight brightened the areas along General Luna Street; and probably, more sales of Fibrella and other brands of umbrellas rose. And oh, Jason jumped out of the silver screen, brandishing his glinting chainsaw - not just to trim the trees ...but to cut down many, if not all, of them.

The coffees of certain people within the perimeter of the University became more bitter than ever. They knew they had to do something. They grabbed a big sachet of creamer, poured all of it into their coffee and stirred it to create a humungous froth.

However, it was not enough to lessen the bitterness. They did not have cubes of sugar but had a 500-gram packet of artificial sweetener instead; and dumped the lot into their cups. Too much sugar did not make it sweet. It just made it cloying, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste in the tongue because it was much much sweeter than what is normally sweet.

Thus, instead of just an issue of plain cutting of trees, the act was made to look like a new version of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, an Augustinian adaptation.

Expectedly or not, some people who opposed the cutting of trees reacted ‘violently’; that is, they overreacted. There was too much mudslinging in social networking sites and subtly fabricated stories inundated the same sites. Talking trash online was their ultimate sweetener for their bitter coffee laced with drops of malice. Was that awesome?!

More importantly, these pretend-environmentalists crunched up big time with their excruciatingly ‘eloquent’ syntax online. It would have been better if they had used their local dialects. They would have been more persuasive and credible. Instead, they wasted almost 400 characters just for posting fractured comments on their Facebook walls, groups, etc. Ay maan bay.

On a lighter side, some people still found within the four corners of San Agustin their decaf fix with pleasurable natureidentical taste. They did not want excess sugar. They simply wanted it the way it should be. They simply and respectfully went to the office of the University President and talked about the real story about the cutting of trees. For some reason, I know that the administration knows what it is doing. i also know that the doors of the Administrators’ offices are always open for us (during office hours, of course) to freely talk to them (and have some coffee, too).That is precisely why we in the USA Publications cooperated with the USA Student Council in holding a dialogue with the Administrators in order to get both sides of the issue and come up with a consensus.

Over-reacting is not beneficial. It makes everything worse.

It makes the problem bigger. And ultimately, it dissolves the solution, instead of solidifying it to eliminate the problem. ***** Ironically, plagiarism has become a nationwide issue when an actor-turned-senator was exposed for copying blog posts from the internet and using them in his privilege speeches. It is hard to believe but who would have thought former United States President John F. Kennedy’s words would be copied and translated and become the said legislator’s “own” words in a privilege speech? Does translation fall under plagiarism? He is a legislator himself so he should be able to answer it.

Now here is the sugar. After having been lambasted and criticized for his plagiarism at various social networking sites, he finally added his kilo of artificial sweetener to his brown and creamy coffee – he supported the passing of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and added online libel to it.

If you cannot handle the bitterness of your coffee, add a really big handful of sweetness to it. So what this senator did was to admit that he copied the words of J.F.K. but he defended himself by saying there was nothing wrong with what he had done since he translated the blog into Filipino anyway, so he “did not commit any plagiarism”. Talk about sweetness ad nauseum! ***** Well, every person has to deal with his own freshly ground roasted coffee beans. It is a matter of keeping grace under pressure. And when technicality and ethics are on the line, be honest. Keep calm and take legal and ethical matters objectively,

Sang mga nagligad nga semana, samtang nagaka-on ako sa isa ka fastfood sa mall, natalupangdan ko ang isa ka kustomer nga nagapangakig sa naga-duty nga superbisor. Nangin sentro sang atensyon ang nasambit nga kustomer bangud sa katunog sang iya tingog. halos tanan nga nagaka-on sa amo nga kalanan nag balikid gid kay daw nadisturbo sila tungod sa iya. ang isa pa gid sa mga rason ngaa indi gid ako mapahamtang sa natabo kay bangod nga ang ginasuksok sang kustomer nga identification card iya sang isa sa mga prestihiyoso nga eskwelahan diri sa rehiyon, ang University of San Agustin.

Nasubu-an pa gid ako sang akon matukiban nga ang amo nga kustomer, empleyado gali sang aton Unibersidad kag isa pa sa aton mga manunudlo. Akon gid nadumduman ang pagba-is niya sa superbisor sang kalan-an kag ang paghambal niya sang iya ginreklamo sa matunog kag makatulublag nga pamaagi. nakilala ko ang isa sa mga nagaka-on sa amo sadto nga ti-on kag siling niya, daw siya kuno ang nahuya sa gin-ubra sang nagreklamo nga kustomer. Bisan ako ang pamangkuton, amo man.

Bilang isa ka nagakabalaka nga estudyante sang sini nga institusyon, gintinguhaan ko nga hibalu-on ang istorya sang natungdan paagi sa pagpamangkot sa isa sa mga serbidor sang nasambit nga kalan-an. Tungod sa kaagi man ako ubra sa kalan-an nga pareho sini, indi nangin mabudlay para sa akon ang maki-angot sa ila.

Siling sang serbidor nga akon gin-isturya, malinong man kuno nga nag-order ang amo nga kustomer sa ila kag nagpamangkot sa kahera kun may ara sila sang iya gusto kun tani nga baklon. Ang kahera matawhay man nga nagsabat apang nangin inisyatibo kuno sang kahera ang magpanugyan sang dugang pa gid nila nga mga produkto kag ginmitlang ang aktwal nga mga presyo sang mga ini. Tungod sadto, nangin sensitibo kuno ang kustomer kag nagpinangakig kay daw ginapaigu-an siya sang kahera nga baratuhon lang ang iya mabakal kag indi niya kuno masarangan ang iban nga ginabaligya nila nga malahalon ang bili. Gindepensahan niya ang ila kahera kay nangin maayo gid kuno ini siya sa iya istasyon kag ginhimo lamang niya ang iya responsibilidad nga magbulig padako sang ila kinitaan paagi sa pagtanyang sang iban pa gid nila nga produkto. Paglakat sang amo nga kustomer pakadto sa iya pulungku-an, dumalagan kuno sa kusina ang ila kahera nga nagahilibi-on kag naatrasar sang makadali ang operasyon sang kalan-an. Didto na nadisturbo ang mga nagaka-on kay sige man sa gihapon ang pagkumod sang nasambit nga kustomer sa iya lamesa.

Ang aton mga manunudlo ang mga modelo sang aton institusyon. Gikan sa ila ang mga pagtulun-an nga nagatudlo sa aton sang maayo nga mga prinsipyo. Sila man ang nagahulma sang aton pagkatawo kag paghuna-huna sa maayo kag husto nga pamaagi. Amo ini bala ang nagakaigo nga sulundan sang aton mga estudyante? Nagakabagay bala ini siya nga magtudlo sa Unibersidad?

Indi lamang mga empleyado ang luwas sa sini nga sitwasyon. Kita nga mga estudyante nga nagasuksok sang uniporme sang Unibersidad amo ang pirmi lang makit-an sa mga indi nagaka-igo nga kaladtu-an pareho lamang sang mga ilimnan. Bisan sa tunga sang kagab-ihon, may mga estudyante man gihapon nga nagasuksok sang aton uniporme sa dalan.

Abi ko asta lang alas-siete ang klase sa Unibersidad? Ini amo ang mga batasan nga wala nagakaangay sa aton persona bilang mga estudyante sang isa ka Katoliko nga eskwelahan.

Ang Unibersidad sang San Agustin, isa ka institusyon kun sa diin nakilala kita sa aton edukasyon nga may pinanilagan kag husto nga karakter. Naintindihan ko ang kahimtangan sang tagreklamo nga akon una nga nasambit apang may matawhay nga mga pamaagi para husayon ang mga ihitabo nga pareho sini. Tani halungan naton ang aton imahe kag paggiho sa sulod man ukon sa guwa sang aton bulutho-an kay amo ini ang nagadala sang ngalan sang aton pinalangga nga Unibersidad. not personally. If you are mad, never vent your sentiments or thoughts immediately. And when you are at your happiest moments, never make decisions because they usually look less rosy and bright when the happy moment passes by, than when you made them when you were in ecstasy.

Overreacting is like adding too much sugar to your coffee.

If you add too much of it, it becomes unpleasant. Too much of anything, no matter how good, is bad.

AugustiniAn

A6 sports

the

Volume lVII • Number 1

October 5, 2012

cbaa trumps cea to win intramurals 2012 basketball championship

By GENESSA A. buENAFE AnD RIC MARTIN l. lIBo-oN

The college of BUSineSS aDMiniSTraTion anD accoUnTancy (CBAA) Men’s basketball team snatched the gold from the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), 67-62, in the championship game of the USA Intramurals at the University of San Agustin Gymnasium, August 22.

Breaching the strong defense of CEA, the CBAA basketball players stormed through the first quarter leading by two points towards the second quarter

when the cea players started to fill baskets and earn points.

CEA kept up the pressure but failed to convert baskets into points giving the cBaa team the opening to make a barrage of three point shots.

The game intensified between the teams eight minutes into the third quarter forcing the players to step up their game.

With another three points in the bag, CBAA remained in the lead, 52-44, despite the full-court press of the cea players.

In the fourth quarter, both teams tied at 55 points during the fifth minute of the game after a free throw by the cea.

The cBaa players were continuously on the run for the basket, breaking the tie at 42 seconds left of the quarter.

The CEA hoopsters put up a strong resistance to keep the CBAA at bay. however, there was no turning back for the CBAA as it shot basket after basket to surge ahead and claim the championship crown.

still in fighting form. The Tekno basketball team gather during a timeout as their coach gives them last minute instructions. (usA Pub Photos / ShILA LoWESSE PATRYXIA G. LAo) dIvERgENcE • from PAGE A7

Philippine Team. it seemed as if 11 athletes with their sports managers were just too much!

The bells have rung and our athletes have carried our flag to London; the support that they hoped for was not really there despite the country’s hopes for the elusive gold medal.

Even some of our greatest filipino athletes also started with nothing since they were not fully supported by the government. Some of these athletes include Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr., and Efren “Bata” Reyes.

EPIcNESS • from PAGE A4

As of October 9, 2012, the Supreme Court issued a Temporary restraining order (TRO) against the cybercrime law that will last for 120 days, giving the Senate a chance to make amendments to the law in order to address the concerns of people who IMPETUS • from PAGE A4

the country have not kept us apart as a multilingual nation.

Rather, despite our linguistic differences, we stand united with the same patriotic dreams and flag-waving aspirations as a people.

Ang lady guard sa lib tama ka panira ng moment. ngaa ano gid ang malain kun mag take a nap ang s2dyante aw? Ang importante wala gagahod.

2log man sa tne qng gusto ya man mg2log. Walang basagan ng trip lg tne. Hmp – Sleepy Hollow father, tanong ko lang, bakit magpahanggang ngayon, wala pang permanenteng building ang CPMT. Tatlong taon na ako dito ngunit watak-watak pa rin yung mga classrooms namin?

– NPA

URdANETA • from PAGE A1

for these great names, it has always been a question of how passionate he is, or how much challenge he can actually take to let that passion spur him to work hard to attain success. according to Senator Pangilinan, “representing the country is a huge undertaking.

We must prepare our athletes for the pressure of competing on a global scale and do all that we can to provide them the necessary tools and skills to ensure victory. There are certain minimum standards that we must always strive to achieve if we want the rest of the world to take us seriously in sports,” Sending out athletes to

international competitions and events must not be taken lightly because handpicking the best of what the Philippines has to offer doesn’t always mean giving them training under the best conditions; rather, it is often training them under certain conditions that inhibit them from showing their best performance.

But our national bell continues to resonate despite the cracks of neglect primarily because of the grit and guts of our Philippine athletes themselves; and sooner or later, the true Filipino willpower would echo louder than any other bell in world.

petitioned for repealing it and to finalize the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations. The petitioners explained that the 15 petitions against Republic Act 10175, objected to Section 4 of the law, which criminalizes libel as a cybercrime and, which taken together with Section 6, increases the penalty

provided by the Revised Penal Code by one degree.

Until the Senate can sort all of this out, it is our job as responsible citizens of our Republic to take charge and be responsible forour actions both online and offlineregardless of whether or not we have a cyber crime law in the country.

Let us remember what Albus Dumbledore in the movie sequel of Harry Potter said to his students at Hogwarts, “Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”

With our collective fingers crossed, let us witness the unfolding and institutionalization of the K to 12 Program of the Aquino administration as it revamps the orphaned educational system that has long been in search of a mother tongue.

comendador’s plan that the University Library will be transferred to the Quadrangle.

“Dolse garcia hall will be restored and an information technology center will be built to link the University’s book and research collections with the other Augustinian institutions all over the world,” Dueñas said. comendador and Dueñas also revealed that the University will have more physical plant projects such

Kanami na gid bala sang facade sang san Agustin, maskin ako man gani in favor gid sa cutting of trees. Oh di bala kitaon ang beauty sang urdaneta kun gab-i. Galing ang iban nga spotlight pundir!

– Spotlight Addict

sa mga naga klase sa DG sa babaw, pls b considerate kay may mga klase man sa dalum.

Hinay lng sa paglakat kag ang mga chairs indi pag i-sudsod.

– Sound Sensitive

Hi, grabe gd ya ang baha sa university kun magbagyo. lapaw na sa tuhod. Epekto ni ayhan sang mga kahoy nga ginpang-utod?

– Happy Tree Friend

Grabi, tag PhP 100 gid ya ang sukot kun indi ka kapaevaluate teacher mo? Grabi diin na ya makadto ang kwarta man?

– Boy Grabi

bilib gid ko bala sa rOTC unit, kay laban sa ila babayi.

Diin na ya ang mga lalaki?

Daw nagbag-o na ang trend subong aw?

– Soldier of Fortune

Wla pulos ang waste segregation d xa san ag. Haboy ka xa sakto nga basurahan pag kolekta xang janitor ginasamu man gyapon. Dapat isa nlng ang label ka trashcan. “Kahit Ano Pwede” Haha.

– Etchoserang Environmentalist

May food stall bala sa cafeteria nga ang food nila may papel!

Abi ko karne pa! Tingala ko budlay usangon.

– Carnivore

Victorio edades.

“We are collaborating with various institutions such as the University of Santo Tomas for the confirmation of the artwork; if authenticated it will bolster and support our bid for the building to be considered as part of our national cultural heritage,” Rentoria, a former NCAA commissioner, said. according to ra 10066, National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, an Important Cultural Property (ICP) shall “have exceptional cultural, artistic, and historical significance to the Philippines, determined by the National Museum or INTELLIgENT • from PAGE A1

National Historical Institute” while a National Cultural Treasure is “a unique cultural property found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation, and officially declared as such by pertinent cultural agency.”

In a letter, former rector Fr. Dolsé Garcia, expressed his gratitude to the Augustinian building for without it “they would have stayed in the streets and with it they can continue with honor in the Philippines.”

“The pre-World War ii structure is the only edifice of the University which

survived the Japanese forces’ bombings [in Iloilo City]. It was a garrison and it served as an asylum to the friars when the convent of the priests was destroyed,” rentoria added. for years, the hall which was named after Augustinian explorer friar andrés de Urdaneta, oSa is home to the College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology (CPMT).

“In 2006, the CPMT left the Urdaneta Hall. I used to hold classes there. as an Augustinian, I take pride in and pray for its affirmation,” Ms. Victoria A. Sustento, former dean of the CPMT, shared.

Currently, the structure is known as the University’s cultural center.

as a new botanical garden, more parking areas, and student parks, although the specific timeframe of the constructions is still pending due to financial constraints.

“These [plans] will materialize as soon as possible… We will conduct fund-raising activities and seek assistance from the alumni and build up linkages.” comendador said.

He further asked for the cooperation of the students, faculty, and personnel “to work hand-in-hand” with the administration in making the plans a reality.

“We are men of Jerusalem, not men of Athens.

We are not just intellectuals; we also work and study in faith. Together we can make this a reality. That is why i call our school an intelligent university,” he concluded.

Comendador’s fouryear term has begun and the challenge of leveling up the status of the first university in Western Visayas and the first and only Augustinian university in the Asia-Pacific region, has to be faced and acted upon, for it to become an internationally-known university.

Ang crush q nagkaon sa cafeteria galing nakita q ginbilin-bilin ya lang basura ya sa lamisa. basi kun mangin kami, bili-bilin ya man ko?

Char!

– Inday Stalker

Tani pati mga secretary kag clerk sa mga offices i-evaluate man sang students. Kay kun makapanita sila, sobra pa kay father.

– Dean’s Wanted Lister

Hello usA Pub, san-o pa ma air-con ang gym? Thank you! =) – Hot Guy

Want your innermost reactions to be read here? Text us at 09283206395 . you may email us at usa.publications@rocketmail.com.

DISCLAIMER: Published reactions do not reflect the editorial position of the USA Publications as these are products of our readers’ freedom of expression.

FUn FACt Things you didn’t know about the University

On October 9, 1894, the total purchase price of Colegio de San Agustin’s land was PhP 4,922.12. The same amount of money today could roughly buy three sacks of rice.

The estimate for the construction of the building for the old Colegio de san Agustin, made by Don Juan Hervas, architect from Manila totaled PhP 140,168.31, the same price as a brand new 55-inch smart television.

Augustinian

sports A7

the

Volume LVII • Number 1

October 5, 2012

Commerciantes take CDC 2012 crown

By RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

divergence

BY GENESSA A. BUENAFE

“It is apparent that the case of corruption in our country blinds what is scarce from what is adequate.”

Juan dela Cruz resonates among Giants cheer louder, leap higher. The College of Education team (left) performs a group stunt and the College of Engineering and Architecture squad (right) poses for the finale. (USA Pub Photos / daniel p. abutas)

All other squads wearing bright costumes filled the USA Gymnasium with a burst of color as they entered; the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) pep squad, however, cheered and danced without an iota of insecurity in their pe r f o r m a n c e th a t t hey grabbed the Intramural Games 2012 Cheerdance Competition (CDC) title from then reigning champ College of Education (CoE).

CBAA was the only team that fully utilized the PE uniform as their garb for the CDC and risked it all, in their bid to become this year’s champions. And it all paid off.

With just a few marks shy of CBAA’s winning points, CoE settled for second place; the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) placed third, but one of their own, Nicole

Gipielango, bagged the best cheerleader award.

CBAA showed everyone this year why they deserved the CDC title as they performed a wide range of cheerleading stunts such as pyramids that included the semi-wolf wall pyramid at extension level, a clustered split pyramid, and the level-2 handstand pyramid; mounting techniques like the modified back-tuck mounting technique; and tosses such as the travelling toss and the x-out back tuck toss.

Although they failed to retain their title, CoE demonstrated that their squad was really the team to beat when they did somersault mounting and dismounting techniques, two 2-2-1 prep-level split pyramids, three back tucks, and the zig-zag pyramid.

As the only newcomer among the top three, CEA

proved they were the team to watch out for in the coming years as they showed serious potential in tumbling, basic elements, and lifts; and did the two 2-2-1 prep-level split pyramids.

Making a comeback after a year-long absence, three-peat champion (2008, 2009, 2010) Basic Education Department (BED) showcased new cheerdance stunts such as the scorpion group act and the front tuck traveling toss, but they could not squeeze themselves into this year’s top three.

On the other hand, a more theme-based act was exhibited by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) when they incorporated ballet movements in their routine; the College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology (CPMT), 2011 first runnerup, also missed a spot in the top three this year despite performing the challenging

3-3-1 extension level split pyramid and the legendary three-man propeller toss which was first performed in the Philippines by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe during the UAAP Cheerdance Competition in 2003; and the College of Nursing (CN) illustrated versatility in their routines especially in the tosses and lifts.

The Intramural Games 2012 CDC is organized annually by the Department of Physical Education in cooperation with the USA Student Council, as one of the highlights of the celebration of Patron Saint’s Day. Being this year’s winner, the CBAA squad gets bragging rights to represent the University of San Agustin in the upcoming Milo Cheerleading Competition in October this year.

COE, CBAA bets hailed Mr. & Ms. Intrams 2012 Josh Palmares and Regine Mae Diopenes, from the College of Education (CoE) and the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), respectively, were hailed as this year’s Mr. and Ms. Intramurals 2012 in a search held at the USA Gymnasium last August 24, 2012.The search was part of the University’s Patron Saint’s Week Celebration.

Ten pairs, including, for the first time, the couple from the College of Law, representing the University’s ten departments, vied for the coveted title of Mr. and Ms. Intramurals 2012.

The contestants, clad in their motorcyclinginspired outfits, entered the Gymnasium for the production number; then they went through the playsuit presentation, and finally the interview portion.

Alex Soncio, the proprietor of Alta Moda, sat as the chief judge of the competition.

By Josefa Maria Castro

Palmares is currently taking up BS Nutrition and Dietetics while Diopenes is a BS Accountancy student. Apart from winning the title of Mr. Intramurals, Palmares was also awarded with the Mr. Glamorous and Best in Playsuit honors. Diopenes garnered the Ms. Face Value, Best in Playsuit and Diopenes palmares the Sun Cellular USA PUB PHOTOs / THONGENN LANZ B. PATIAM Texter’s Choice award, and Paula Taleon the College of Engineering awards.

Ralph Antoine Rojo from the College of Pharmacy and Architecture (CEA),also from the College of Law (CL) and Medical Technology named Mr. International, and was awarded first runner-up (CPMT) who garnered the Ms. Allana Babayen-on from the together with Michelle Louise Photogenic, Ms. Glamorous CL, were fourth runners-up.

Tupaz from the College of and Best in Interview awards. John Anderson Gedoque Nursing (CN) who was also John Miedez from CPMT from the College of Arts and named Ms. International. together with Narielle Plana Sciences (CAS) was named second runners-up were John from CoE, who was awarded Mr. Photogenic and Francis Joepet Tiña from the CBAA Best in Production Number, Jolito from the High School who was also awarded the were third runners-up. Department was awarded Sun Cellular Texter’s Choice Bonifacio Gutierrez from Best in Interview.

Marking the start of the Olympics, church bells, bicycle bells, handbells, ship’s bells, and even mobile phones sounded in unison across Britain to mark the start of the tangling of the five rings once again for thec2012 Olympics.

But even before those bells could ring, the Philippine athletes had to face once again the crack on the country’s own bell. Corroded by the country’s economic and political upheavals, the support for our athletes and aspiring athletes as well, is slowly waning. When Filipinos support their fellowmen, they usually equate it with the number of facebook fanpages they create or the number of likes they post; and also the number of posters showcasing our power of being Filipinos put up, or the number of T-shirts bought. These could truly make the heart of our athletes stouter and our banner bigger.

But when the heart soars it doesn’t mean it will bring the gold home. Every diamond needs to be cut and polished in order for it to shine. The same is true about athletes. They need not just training that is given by mentors alone, but also the entire country’s support even more than they need the likes on their Fan Page on Facebook.

Every organization in every nook and cranny of the country can say without a doubt that its budget is always scarce despite the practical efforts of our government to allocate the country’s funds that will propel us to reach for the gold.

According to Yvan Limson, this boils down to the lack of government support for Philippine Sports. Other countries would spend millions of dollars for their various sports programs, which includethe opening of sport academies and the hiring of talent scouts and sport psychologists. This high budget allocation for sports pays off as shown in their season by season exemplary performance in the Olympics. Despite the negligence of sports education, our country continues to have high hopes for future Olympic forays. These high hopes will eventually fall short when our athletes face their foreign competitors who have been discovered, supported, and trained by their very own governments.

One of the chosen athletes for the Olympics was the country’s lone bet in boxing, Mark Anthony Barriga.

The 19-year-old boxer started his training with focus and determination that tested his resistance and endurance. Being hailed as the Philippine’s youngest Philippine Olympic boxer, Barriga did not plan on having to settle for less as he devoted his time to training and sparring with the best boxers in the country. Despite his rigorous training, Barriga promised no gold. How could he when he had to face the world’s best trained boxers with full government support? Barriga was far from the assurance of a gold medal.

The same is true about young aspirants who fail to develop their potential in their chosen fields in sport because of the lack of education and facilities.

Now it can be told that prior to the departure of the delegates for London, questions had already been raised about why there were more officials than the 11 athletes themselves in the Filipino delegation in London. The answer was that the assistance of more officials is actually a good thing for the athletes because these athletes needed coaches; and a team manager who, in cases of dispute, is the only one allowed to file a protest. It seemed that the power of speech and reasoning resides only in these important officials. But, unfortunately, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) would not spend a cent of the country’s money for these people. Instead, they would present their own chosen few as the official representatives who would accompany the athletes and let the International Olympic Committee (IOC) handle the expenses of the athletes.

Since the IOC would spend for them, the POC could save the 30M pesos that was allotted for the Olympics. Why, again, wouldn’t the POC sponsor these additional officials for the Philippine Team? The allotted budget was there after all...it jut wasn’t used!

The expense for the Philippine Olympic delegation - 11 athletes in eight sports disciplines, including athletics, archery, boxing, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming and weightlifting, plus transportation and catering - must have been very costly.

Why else did the POC officials solve the “lack” of budget by simply paring down the number of members of the divergence • PAGE A6

AugustiniAn the

in it to win it. The College of business Administration and Accountancy performs one of their highlight pyramids during the Intramural Games 2012 Cheerdance Competition held last August 24 at the University of San Agustin Gymnasium. They emerged as this year’s champion in the said contest. (usA Pub Photo / RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG)

CEA, CbAA share intrams ‘12 overall championship crown LIKE PEETA MELLARK and Katniss Everdeen in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, the Teknos and Commerciantes had to break some rules and tradition as both of them were crowned victors in the Intramural Games 2012.

A fusion of thrills, excitement, and drama capped the annual intramurals as the two colleges were proclaimed overall champions in the USA Gymnasium last August 24.

The Sports Office had no choice but to proclaim the two colleges, the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) and the College of Engineering and

By RIC MARTIN l. lIBo-oN

Architecture (CEA), as winners that would share the championship this year since they were both in dead heat after the final tally.

With 270 points each, CBAA and CEA sealed their victory as the former clinched the gold in sports events such as men’s basketball, men’s volleyball and women’s lawn tennis doubles, while the latter trounced other delegations in women’s basketball, men’s table tennis, men’s badminton and men’s lawn tennis doubles.

According to the CEA council president, the college was a “little bit short” of preparation and that some of its star players have already graduated.

“I must admit that we got weaker because

our active players have already graduated.”

Robert Dionio, president of the Epsilon Alpha Chi Organization (the college council of CEA) confessed in an interview.

When asked about his personal reaction regarding the shared victory, Dionio praised the other colleges in showing improvements in the various sports events.

“This year simply shows that other teams, especially CBAA, have leveled up,” Dionio said.

The College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology (CPMT) was declared second runner-up followed by the College of Education (CoE) and the Basic Education Department (BED).

OCTOBER 5, 2012

sOurCE: sports office

Iloilo City, Philippines

usA Pub InfOGrAPHIC / ray adrian c. macalalag

the OFFiCiAL stuDent neWsPAPeR OF the uniVeRsity OF sAn Agustin

INTRAMURAL GAMES 2012 TALLY

VOLUME LVIII • NUMBER 1

sPORts

football games suspended rain or shine. Even the bad weather could not stop these players but they would have to wait until the Sports Office can make the decision on when the soccer game will continue. (usA Pub Photos / ShILA LoWESSE

PATRYXIA G. LAo)

eXPecT to hear the noise of cheers and yells this Second Semester in buildings along the USA Football Field and Parade Grounds as the suspended football games resume. assistant Sports Director Demosthenes Toledo, included a note in the official tally of scores in the Intramural Games 2012 stated that the games will resume when the venue is “playable”.

Last August, the football games – supposedly part of the Intramural Games 2012

By RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

overall championship tally – were put to a halt after the Sports Office declared the said venue as “unplayable”.

“Most games were rainy which resulted to the uprooting of the grass in the field and the entire field was full of mud.” College of Engineering and Architecture football team captain Edgilson Maquiling said. according to the United States Soccer Foundation Safety Guidelines, the play area must be “free from foreign objects, ruts, and

cracks.”

In addition, the football field also produced “unpleasant” smell disturbing those who pass by the back of Blanco, Alumni, Gamboa, and Aguirre Halls.

“The field really smells bad… most of us avoided the area so we used other routes to go to our classes.” Danny Gicano, a fourth year civil engineering student shared.

The resumption of the games and its specific dates are to be announced.